U.S. patent application number 11/628121 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-08 for pneumatic structure.
Invention is credited to Fritz Fuchs, Res Kammer, Laszlo Kerekes.
Application Number | 20070256245 11/628121 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34966597 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070256245 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kammer; Res ; et
al. |
November 8, 2007 |
Pneumatic Structure
Abstract
A pneumatic structure for sitting, lying and reclining cushions
including a plurality of cells disposed together in rows and
frictionally interconnected at a plurality of sides along a
transversal web thereby forming a layer, the layer being charged
with compressed gas through at least one valve and made from a
membrane of flexible, gas-tight material. The structure displays a
plurality of frictionally interconnected layers, the layers being
interconnected such that a longitudinal web separating the layers
is present. A casing made from flexible, elastic material is
present and envelops the plurality of layers. The casing is
frictionally connected partly or across a full length of a contact
line to at least one cell.
Inventors: |
Kammer; Res; (Mirchel,
CH) ; Kerekes; Laszlo; (Zurich, CH) ; Fuchs;
Fritz; (Uster, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WINSTEAD PC
P.O. BOX 50784
DALLAS
TX
75201
US
|
Family ID: |
34966597 |
Appl. No.: |
11/628121 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
May 19, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CH05/00282 |
371 Date: |
February 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/655.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/54 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/655.3 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/08 20060101
A47C027/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 4, 2004 |
CH |
962/04 |
Claims
1. A pneumatic structure for sitting, lying and reclining cushions,
comprising. a plurality of cells disposed together in rows, the
plurality of cells being frictionally interconnected at the sides
along a transversal web thereby forming a layer charged with
compressed gas through at least one valve made from a membrane of
flexible, gas-tight materials; wherein the structure displays a
plurality of frictionally interconnected layers; wherein the
frictionally interconnected layers are interconnected such that a
longitudinal web separating the frictionally interconnected layers
is present; a casing made from flexible, elastic material is
present and envelops the frictionally interconnected layers; and
wherein the casing is frictionally connected partly or across full
length of a contact line to at least one cell of the plurality of
cells.
2. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of cells and the casing are produced by gluing and/or
heat-sealing plastic film.
3. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein the
transversal webs of the frictionally interconnected layers each
meet in pairs on line on the longitudinal web to form a transversal
web that passes through the entire structure.
4. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein at least
one layer does not extend over an entire width and/or length of the
structure.
5. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein the
structure comprises at least two groups of communicating cells,
wherein the at least two groups of communicating cells can be
charged with different pressures.
6. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein two edge
membranes create a gas-tight seal at the ends of at least two cells
of the plurality of cells, wherein the transversal webs of the at
least two cells connected by the edge membranes are not connected
to the edge membranes and consequently forming an opening for
pressure equalisation between the at least two connected cells.
7. The pneumatic structure according to claim 6, wherein the
pressure equalisation between the at least two connected cells of
the same pressure is made possible by means of openings or ducts in
the transversal webs and/or the longitudinal webs.
8. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein each cell
of the plurality of cells adjacent to the casing is frictionally
connected to the casing either partly or along the full length of
the contact line.
9. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein a size of
the casing is selected such that when the structure is pressurised,
the structure is stretched more than the membrane, wherein a
peripheral length of the casing is smaller when it is not stretched
than the peripheral length of pressurised layers without the
casing.
10. The pneumatic structure according-to claim 1, wherein a gap
between two adjacent contact lines is shorter when the structure is
not pressurised, and the casing is not stretched, than the gap
between the contact lines on the plurality of cells when the
structure is pressurised without the casing.
11. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein the
membrane and/or the casing have at least one fluid muscle and means
of operating the fluid muscles.
12. The pneumatic structure according to claim 1, wherein the
membrane is made from elastic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a pneumatic structure for
use, for example, as sitting, lying and reclining cushions.
[0003] 2. History of Related Art
[0004] Pneumatic sitting and reclining cushions are known in the
art. They usually comprise a plurality of communicating air tubes
disposed alongside one another in a row, which can be inflated and
deflated via a common valve and therefore resemble the airbed known
in the art both in structure and form. A degree of scope for
adaptation exists through the potential for giving individual tubes
different air pressures or using different diameter tubes, whereby
the shape and softness can be varied to a limited extent. For
practical application, such cushions are also provided with a
fabric cover. However, the basic structure of the tubes remains
visible and, as is essential to a cushion, palpable too. An example
of a pneumatic sitting cushion is disclosed in WO 94/07396.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the invention is to create a pneumatic
structure, in particular for sitting, lying and reclining cushions,
which offers good malleability, is able to meet stringent
requirements in relation to sitting comfort, can offer an
appreciable weight saving compared with conventional foam cushions
and can be effectively combined with rigid structures. In
particular, despite the great scope offered in shape design
possibilities, the structure should not become stiff or even hard,
as invariably seems to be the case when using many structural
webs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A more complete understanding of the pneumatic structure of
the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following
Detailed Description, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying Drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIGS. 1a,b show a schematic diagram of a first exemplary
embodiment in longitudinal and cross-section;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a second exemplary
embodiment in cross-section;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a third exemplary
embodiment in cross-section;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a fourth exemplary
embodiment in cross-section;
[0011] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a fifth exemplary
embodiment in cross-section;
[0012] FIGS. 6a,b show a schematic diagram of a sixth exemplary
embodiment in longitudinal and cross-section;
[0013] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a seventh exemplary
embodiment in cross-section; and
[0014] FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of an eighth exemplary
embodiment in cross-section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of a first exemplary
embodiment of a pneumatic structure 1 according to the invention in
cross-section. Unlike single-layer structures, as are commonly
found in airbeds and pneumatic seat cushions, the pneumatic
structure 1 comprises at least two layers 3 of gas-filled cells 2
disposed in a row. The cells 2 are, for example, tubular. The
structure is made from a flexible, gas-tight membrane 5. This
membrane 5 preferably comprises a suitable plastic film. The cells
2 may be produced, for example, by heat-sealing or gluing elastic
PU films. The cells 2 are connected along part of their periphery
to the adjacent cells 2, thereby forming parts of transversal webs
7 and longitudinal webs 8. These webs 7,8 are formed, for example,
by heat-sealing or gluing together adjacent membranes 5 or by
ensuring that adjacent cells 2 close to the webs 7,8 share a single
common membrane 5. A cell 2 not lying at the edge of a layer 3
within the structure 1 therefore has at least three adjacent cells
2, namely, the two adjacent cells 2 on the same layer 3 to the left
and right, and also one or several adjacent cells 2 in an upper
and/or lower layer 3'. Communicating cells 2 that are under the
same pressure (what this means both here and elsewhere in the text
is overpressure relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure) form
one or more groups 12 of cells 2, each with at least one valve 4
that serves to charge the individual cell 2 or group 12 of cells 2
with a compressed gas. In the first exemplary embodiment, four
cells 2 in each case meet along a line 6 running in a longitudinal
direction. The heat-sealed or shared membranes 5 of the cells 2
form the shape-stabilising webs 7,8, namely, a plurality of
transversal webs 7 running vertically in the figure, and a
longitudinal web 8 running horizontally in the figure.
[0016] FIG. 1b shows the first exemplary embodiment in the
longitudinal section A-A'. The cells 2 are not individually
heat-sealed at both ends, but each layer 3 has a gas-tight
connection across its entire width with an edge membrane 9 sealing
the layer 3, wherein this edge membrane 9 may certainly also be
formed by part of the membrane 5. The openings thereby produced at
the ends of the cells 2 enable the pressure to be equalised between
the cells 2 throughout the entire layer 3. The multi-layer body,
created by the layers 3 of cells 2, is in turn surrounded by an
all-enveloping casing 10, comprising a flexible, elastic membrane.
The contact lines 11 of the convex cells 2 running longitudinally
through the structure 1 may be frictionally connected partly or
across their full length to the casing 10, for instance,
heat-sealed or glued. In actual fact, the contact line 11 will
always be a contact surface. The contact line 11 preferably runs
essentially along the longitudinal axis of symmetry of this contact
surface. If the casing 10 is additionally prestressed, this gives
the pneumatic structure 1 a smooth surface, without the tubular
cells 2 emerging as bulges. The combination of several layers 3, 3'
of cells 2 enables there to be significantly improved control of
the shape of the pneumatic structure 1, than if the structure 1
were to have continuous cells 3 across its entire height. By
reducing the radii of the cells 2, the tension in the membrane 5 of
the cells 2 diminishes based on the same pressurisation. This
facilitates a smooth, even surface and shape of the pneumatic
structure 1, by means of the prestressed casing 10 connected to the
cells 2 punctiformly or over the entire length. The structure 1 is
made softer by a plurality of smaller cells 2, than if only a small
number of larger cells 2 were present. The prestressing of the
casing 10 can be achieved by selecting the gap 11-11' between two
contact lines 11 such that it is, for example, 1-20% smaller in the
depressurised state than in the pressurised state. In other words,
the casing 10 is stretched and expanded when the cells 2 are
pressurised between the contact lines 11-11'. The structure 1
facilitates, for example when used as a sitting or lying cushion, a
high degree of dimensional stability and malleability combined with
a high standard of comfort and softness. This means that structure
1 need not be inflated until it is as hard as a board, in order for
it to assume and maintain the desired shape.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a three-layered pneumatic structure 1
schematically in cross-section as the second exemplary embodiment.
According to the invention, three or more layers 3 of cells 2 must
be combined. In this example, as in the preceding ones, the cells 2
of a layer 3 are interconnected by ducts or openings in the common
transverse and longitudinal webs 7,8 and they display the same
pressure.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment, once again with
three layers 3 of cells 2, wherein, however, the layer 3' does not
extend over the entire width of the structure 1. Moreover, this
structure 1 displays the same gas pressure in all cells 2. A single
valve 4 is sufficient to charge the intercommunicating cells 2 with
compressed gas.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment. This is a
variant of the first exemplary embodiment. The transversal webs 7
in the first layer 3 are not directly connected to the transversal
webs 7 in the second layer 3'. A cell 2, which does lie at the edge
of a layer 3, is adjacent to at least four cells 2, namely, two
cells 2 in the same layer 3 and at least two cells in an adjacent
layer 3.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a pneumatic
structure 1 according to the invention, which displays three
different pressure regimes with pressures p1, p2, p3. The groups 12
of communicating cells 2 with the same pressure are interconnected
by means of openings or ducts 13 in the transversal webs 7 and
longitudinal webs 8.
[0021] Means exist for the pressurisation of the groups 12, such
as, for example, compressors, pressure sensors, electronic
controls, valves, pressure lines. Such means are known to the
person skilled in the art and need not therefore be dealt with in
further detail.
[0022] FIGS. 6a,b show a sixth exemplary embodiment.
[0023] The schematic cross-section in FIG. 6a shows the cells 2 in
this example sealed such that they are gas-tight relative to one
another. Each individual cell 2 has at least one separate valve 4
and can be pressurised independently of the other cells 2. The
longitudinal section B-B' in FIG. 6b clearly discloses that the
transversal webs 7 in this exemplary embodiment leave no opening
free at the ends of the tubular cells 2. The edge membrane 9 seals
off each cell 2 individually, so that no gas exchange can take
place between the cells 2 within a layer 3.
[0024] FIG. 7 shows a seventh exemplary embodiment with an
irregular, asymmetric configuration and size of the cells 2. By
varying the shape, size, configuration and number of cells 2, the
person skilled in the art can produce pneumatic structures of the
most divergent shape and firmness.
[0025] FIG. 8 shows an eighth exemplary embodiment. The casing 10,
the membrane 5, the transversal webs 7 and the longitudinal webs 8
are provided at some points with fluid muscles 14. FIG. 8 shows,
for example, possible configurations, combinations and positions of
such fluid muscles 14, which may be shortened in length. The fluid
muscles 14 are linear actuators that shorten the webs 7,8 or, more
generally, the membrane 5 of the cells 2 and also the casing 10 at
any point and are thereby able to alter the shape of the structure.
The fluid muscle 14 comprises, for example, tubular, fluid-tight
chambers, which are integrated in the membrane 5 or casing 10 to be
shortened. When these chambers are charged with a fluid--for
example, compressed air--which is under greater pressure than the
surrounding cells 2, the chambers become essentially round in
cross-section. Fluid muscles 14 of this type and the means required
for their operation, such as lines, compressors and controls, are
known to the person skilled in the art. They will not therefore be
dealt with further here.
[0026] The cell 2' is limited as an example of double-walled webs
7,8. A multi-layer structure for the webs 7,8 can be achieved with
all the aforementioned exemplary embodiments, for example by gluing
or heat-sealing the membrane 5. With the remaining webs 7,8, the
chamber of the fluid muscle 14 is formed by a piece of membrane
secured at its edges in a fluid-tight manner to the web 7,8 and by
part of the web 7,8 itself.
[0027] Included in the concept of the invention is the possibility
of combining the different features of the aforementioned exemplary
embodiments arbitrarily, in order to obtain further exemplary
embodiments according to the invention.
* * * * *